BY Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana have completed preparations of their 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil qualifier where they will face Ethiopia.

The match will be played on Sunday, 3 June 2012 at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Phokeng near Rustenburg.

Bafana Bafana has been in camp since Monday, 21 May.

“We have prepared well. The team is ready, we did what we could with the time we had, and hopefully everything falls into place on Sunday. It’s a big game for us and a very important one. We have to give the country confidence by getting a win,” said Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane.

“It is important to finish top of the group so we can get to the next round. What is key is how you finish, but at the same time you don’t want to create stress for yourself, your team and the country so you have to start well, by winning your home games.”

Mosimane is aware that South Africa has not won a match in a long time (August 2011, Burkina Faso – Ellis Park), and will take a win in any form.

“We have a multidimensional and a balanced strikeforce which I think will deliver on the day, I am positive they will score. But then again, for me the score line does not matter, personally I need a win – it doesn’t matter whether we play well or not we need the three points. South Africa deserves a win, and we desperately need a win,” said Mosimane.

South Africa will be boosted by the proud record of winning six of their seven previous matches in the North West province, losing only to Spain (3-2) in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Bafana Bafana has triumphed over Mauritius, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Norway, New Zealand and Kenya.

Several players in the current squad have scored when Bafana Bafana played in the province – Siyabonga Nomvethe (Mauritius in 2000); Teko Modise (Cameroon in 2008); Siphiwe Tshabalala (Norway in 2009); Katlego Mphela (Spain in 2009) and Steven Pienaar (Kenya in 2011).

Bafana’s matches in Rustenburg:

29/04/00 COSAFA  v Mauritius  3-0 (Mayo 13′ pen, Sapula 69′, Nomvethe 78′)

27/01/01 WCQ  v Burkina Faso  1-0  (Bartlett 17′)

19/11/08 FRIENDLY v Cameroon  3-2  (Modise 6′, 23′, Parker 82′)

28/03/09 FRIENDLY v Norway  2-1  (Parker 7, Tshabalala 89′)

17/06/09 CONFED v New Zealand  2-0  (Parker 21′, 52′)

28/06/09 CONFED v Spain   2-3  (Mphela 73′, 89′)

09/02/11 FRIENLDY v Kenya  2-0  (Somma 2′, Pienaar 44′)